Comments on: iRobot CEO Colin Angle talks about the future of robotics

By: Kirez

Kirez — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:00:42 +0000

Jim,
Colin Angle or any other innovator does not, should not, and cannot dictate the choices or ethical responsibilities of the marketplace.

If you’re an officer in the field leading soldiers, what’s your first operational priority? (Go ahead, ask an officer.) Yes, keep your men alive so you can complete your mission.

You may not grasp the economics, but the CEO of a company has the same operational priority. The details are little more complicated, but he must keep his company alive, and this requires an operational prioritization of earning money.

Your worldview sounds like an authoritarian’s. You might feel better in a soviet-era command-and-control economy where couch clowns like yourself can feel comforted that innovators are not free, but instead serve “the common good” as interpreted and regulated by people with intelligence similar to your own.

Meanwhile, innovators who focus rationally on their operational priorities, like keeping their companies profitable, will continue to provide the goods and services we all need to survive.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:13:10 +0000

I don’t believe the marketing is the sole problem. Although I’d agree the marketing can be improved, there’s a huge generational gap between the people SPENDING on vacuums and the people who accept these devices as replacements for your typical upright vacuum. Case in point, as a young professional, I’ve grown up with a techno-focused generation, I’m in the computer field, and I’m willing to explore robotics. My parents, on the other hand, aren’t convinced fully — not because they don’t understand, but because they don’t even care to understand. Their value system is different. My mom was raised with manual chores and that’s “just the way it is” in her mind. For a lot of the baby boomer generation, it’s not a matter of not being exposed to the products (they’re in many stores — target, sharper image, brookstone, sears, bed bath and beyond, etc, and even on TV!)… it’s moreso convincing them to change their values and accept a machine doing a new task for them. This is no different than convincing them to use the Internet, get a cell phone, upgrade to fiber-optic, or anything else. They’re usually well behind the “power-curve”… but if there’s a compelling reason, eventually they give in. This is what we’re beginning to see happen. Five years ago you couldn’t convince my parents they needed or even wanted to SEE a robotic vacuum. Now they own the latest Roomba and my mom swears by her Scooba. The generation now entering into their professional careers, young adults, will QUICKLY adopt robotic vacuums… and the whole teenage iPod generation will be shoe-ins… uprights will be endangered. The same will go for other chores where iRobot and others introduce replacements.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:04:01 +0000

CES 2007 (one year ago) Colin Angle said “There are 2.5 million Roombas in the field”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128455/article.html

By: Sundaram

Sundaram — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:16:58 +0000

iRobot’s consumer products major flaw does not lie in their technology, but in their lack of a cohesive marketing and product placement initiative.

The reason for their 1% market penetration lies in the fact that they have done a terrible job of educating the public about their products. To the everyday homeowner the Roomba is still reserved for the gadget freak. A novelty on display at Sharper Image or in technology magazines, purchased for show not for actual effectiveness.

I have personally been interested in iRobot products for years but I have yet to see one in action. Why is that? Before I purchase one of these I need a little convincing that it can clean as effectively as a handheld. Even if it was 80% as effective and I was told I would have a much cleaner home because it will automatically tidy up everyday versus weekly or bi-weekly vacuuming, would tip me in the favor of a purchase.

Once iRobot solves their marketing, then perhaps America will have their cave mouth epiphany, but waiting for a typical consumer electronic adoption cycle is not the way to go, these aren’t ipods. Consumers love a better product, but people are passionate about music, or about movies (DVD’s) not vacuuming.

Keep up the good work!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:54:51 +0000

Did Colin say “We’ve sold 2.5 million robots” or did he say 3.5 million?

By: James E. Carberry

James E. Carberry — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:59:57 +0000

I find it interesting that Mr Angle’s enthusiasm for robots that are saving lives in caves and the future future of robotics in general is still based on market share. I hope Mr Angle realizes that he and his product have a moral purpose and responsibility as well that and he and others should reflect on thsi carefully as robotics becomes common place like computers in peoples homes.
Isac Asimov had some ideas on the subject that should not be lost in the coming robotics revolution. Bicentenial man ( good flick) is another good source of issues we will have to confront before placing market share as a priority above the human factor.

Customers are people that have families and lives. We all better figure this out now before it is to late.

Sincerely,

Jim

By: D.

D. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:16:37 +0000

Great thank you.

By: D.

D. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:12:12 +0000

Grate